Lathes

ABSTRACT

The bed head stock and tail stock of a lathe are supported on a support assembly. The support assembly includes a frame on which are adjustably mounted two pedestals. The bed head stock and tail stock are supported by the pedestals at three spaced-apart position. At one position the bed and head stock are rigidly connected to a pedestal, at a second position the bed is freely supported by a pedestal for sliding movement in all directions and at a third position the bed is supported by a pedestal for sliding movement in one direction only, parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lathe.

United States Patent Schmid [451 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] LATHES 2,679,780 6/1954 Bauersachs ..82/32 4, [72] inventor: Ernest Jakal Schmid Marin lfl egghatel, 586 6/1933 storm eta] 82,32

swnzefland Primary Examineri.eonidas Vlachos [73] Assignee: Edouard Dubled & Cie S.A., Neuchatel, Attorney-Robert E.Bums and Emmanuei.l.Lobato Switzerland [22] Filed: May 18,1970

[2i] Appl.No.: 38,051

I30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 20, 1969 Switzerland ..7650/69 52 0.5. Ci ..s2 32 [51] int. Cl .B23b 17/00 [58] Field of Search ..82/32 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,911,169 ll/l959 Contreras ..82/32 X [57] ABSTRACT The bed head stock and tail stock of a lathe are supported on a support assembly. The support assembly includes a frame on which are adjustably mounted two pedestals. The bed head stock and tail stock are supported by the pedestals at three spaced-apart position. At one position the bed and head stock are rigidly connected to a pedestal, at a second position the bed is freely supported by a pedestal for sliding movement in all directions and at a third position the bed is supported by a pedestal for sliding movement in one direction only, parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lathe.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZ! I972 3,650,166

Inventar;

ERNEST JAKAL SCHMID Atty.

LATHES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to lathes.

Generally, the pedestal for a lathe is a heavy casting of complex shape, which acts as a support for the different components, for example motors of the lathe, and which forms a receptacle for liquids and swarf, although only poorly suited as a receptacle since the walls of the casting can be porous. For technological reasons in foundry work, the pedestal has very thick walls with undesirable sections which causes an unnecessary increase in its weight and consequent price.

Conventional lathes have rigid connecting means and large contact surfaces between the pedestal and the bed. Because of this, substantial variations in the temperature of the pedestal caused by the heat from motors and liquids unfavorably influence the precision of the lathe. On the one hand, they cause distortions of the pedestal which are transmitted to the bed by the rigid connecting means and, on the other hand, there is a heat transmission to the bed through the large contact surfaces in such a way that the latter can be considerably distorted.

Lathes which have only three small contact surfaces between bed and pedestal are already known. As a result, the aforesaid distortions are partially excluded. Other drawbacks as mentioned (complicated shape and so on) still exist.

STATEMENT OF AIMS An object of the present invention is to substantially minimize the disadvantage referred to above. Other objects will be made clear in the following description.

According to the present invention, a lathe comprises a support assembly for supporting the bed, the head and tail stock of the lathe, the support assembly including a frame and two pedestals adjustably mounted on the frame, the bed and the head and tail stock being supported by the pedestals of the support assembly at three spaced apart positions, at one position the bed is rigidly connected to a pedestal, at a second position the bed is freely supported by a pedestal for sliding movement in all directions and at a third position the bed is supported by a pedestal for sliding movement in one direction only parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lathe.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective, diagrammatic view of a lathe; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional details of the lathe of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, a copying lathe includes a support frame 1. Frame 1 consists of two longitudinally extending members 2, 11 and two transverse members 3, 4. The members 2, 11; 3, 4 are each made of steel and are of such a section, for example, a square section, as to rigidize frame 1. At their inter-sections, for example at 5 and 6, the members 2, l1; 3, 4 are rigidly connected together by welding. At the ends of each transverse member 3, 4, adjustable support means is provided, indicated areas designated at 7, 8, 9 and 10. The adjustable support means rest on a prepared foundation and permit the frame 1 to be levelled.

Member 1 can be provided with rollers or casters (not shown) for ease of movement of the frame.

The members 2, 3 and 4 have on their upper surfaces, as seen in FIG. 1, bosses l8, l9 welded to the respective members. Each boss 18, 19 has a central threaded hole and on its upper face a chamfered recess having a flat base 21 in which is arranged a concave spherical washer 22.

Frame 1 is contained within a rectangular steel container 12; one side of which is shown open but is normally closed by detachable covers 14. The container 12 is divided into compartments by walls 13 (only one shown). Each compartment acts as a reservoir for soluble oil, cooling fluid and the like. The covers 14 located over the compartments containing the soluble oil and other such liquids are provided with filters 15 and an ancilliary equipment such as pumps and couplings (not shown) fixed to the container 12.

The adjustable support means at areas 7, 8, 9 and 10 pass through the container 12 at liquid proof joints.

Two pedestals 16, 17 are provided and are adapted to be ad justably mounted on the frame 1. Pedestal 16, supports a motor 26 for driving the lathe and within the pedestal 16 is arranged a gearbox On the underside of pedestal 16 are three I supporting positions each corresponding to a boss 18. Each supporting position has a through hole, which is spot faced at each end. A convex spherical washer 23 seats in the lower spot face 24, which washer 23 cooperates with a concave spherical washer 22. The pedestal 16 is tightened down on the frame 1 by bolts 25 which pass through the through holes in the pedestal 16 and screw into the threaded holes in the bosses 18.

Pedestal 17 is similarly mounted on frame 1 by means of bosses 19.

The positions of the bosses l8, 19 on members 2, 3 and 4 are arranged so that there is a boss 18 or 19 at the intersection of the members 2, 3 and 2; 4. Differences in level of up to one millimeter are permissible between the flat base 21 of the recesses 20 of bosses 18, 19. A slight play of approximately 0.1 millimeter is permissible between the diameter of the concave spherical washer 22 and the recess 20. This play together with the cooperating spherical surfaces of the washers 22, 23 permits limited adjustment or frictional sliding movement between the pedestals 16, 17 and the frame 1.

The pedestal 16 has on its upper surface two threaded holes and corresponding counterbores at positions 36, 37. The pedestal 17 has a similar arrangement at a position 38 on its upper surface. Positions 36, 37 and 38 correspond to similar positions 36, 37, 38 on a bed 27 and head stock 2B of the lathe.

Bed 27 has rigidly attached to it, the headstock unit 28 with spindle 41 and has a copying arrangement 40 as well as the other constituent parts of a lathe (not shown). A tailstock 39 is slidably mounted on the bed 27. Bed 27 and head stock 25 are connected to and supported by pedestals 16, 17 at the positions 36, 37, 38. At position 36 the bed 27 is rigidly connected to pedestal 16, at position 37 the bed 27 and head stock 2B are supported by the pedestal 16 for sliding movement in all directions and at position 38 the bed 27 is supported by the pedestal 17 but restrained to be slidably movable in one direction only, parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lathe.

FIG. 3 shows the support arrangement at position 38. Pedestal 17 has, within its counterbore a guide block 29 having a longitudinally extending slot 30 of rectangular cross-section. A concave spherical washer 31 is mounted in slot 30 and has side surfaces 32 which permit sliding movement in the longitudinal direction of the washer 31 in slot 30. A cooperating convex spherical washer 33 passes through a hole in bed 27 and seats in a spot face at the end of the hole opposite the pedestal 17. A bolt 34 passes through the washers 31, 33 and engages in the screw threaded hole in the pedestal l7. Springs 35 are provided under the nut cooperating with bolt 34 to minimize the effect of the transmission of any movement between pedestal l7 and the bed 27.

The position 36, shown in FIG. 1, ensures a fixed positioning between bed' 27 and pedestal l6. Spherical washers are placed in the cylindrical chamfered hole of pedestal l6 and bed 27, respectively, allowing a slight play. The connecting means between the three supporting positions (36, 37 and 38) and the bed 27 and headstock 28 unit are similar to those shown in FIG. 3. The position 37 with its connecting means allows a sliding frictional movement by allowing a relatively large play of about one millimeter between at least one spherical washer and the corresponding chamfered hole.

The hydraulic and electric components and other heat producers are separated as much as possible from the bed 27 by a free space. Between the said bed and the pedestals 16 and 17 and likewise between the latter and the tank, large sized spaces are left. Thus the bed 27 and the elements attached to it are insulated as well as possible from the sources of heat.

The pedestals l6, l7 and the frame 1 with its container 12 are, light, small separate units not requiring heavy duty machining, the surfaces to be machined being reasonably small, the precision required is easily achieved. The chosen materials and the sizes are related to their functions. Under operating conditions, transmission of thermal distortion to the functional elements of the lathe, are reduced to a minimum.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lathe comprising a lathe bed assembly comprising a bed and associated parts including a head stock rigid with said bed, and a support assembly for supporting the lathe bed assembly the improvement that said support assembly comprises;

a frame and two pedestals adjustably mounted on the frame and sup porting lathe bed assembly at three spaced-apart positions, at one position the lathe bed assembly being rigidly connected to a pedestal, at a second position the lathe bed assembly being freely supported by a pedestal for sliding movement in all directions and at a third position the lathe bed assembly being supported by a pedestal for sliding movement inone direction only, parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lathe.

2. A lathe according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises two rigid parallel members substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lathe, and two rigid cross members.

3. A lathe according to claim 1, wherein at least three spaced-apart adjustable support means are provided which rest on a foundation and support the frame.

4. A lathe according to claim 1, wherein a container is provided, which container contains the frame.

5. A lathe according to claim 4, wherein the container is made from steel.

6. A lathe according to claim 4, wherein walls divide the container into a plurality of sealed off compartments, which compartments form reservoirs for liquids.

7. A lathe according to claim 2, wherein the pedestals are mounted on the frame at some at least of the intersections between the members of the frame.

8. A lathe according to claim 1, wherein spherical washers are included in the support arrangement between the support assembly and the lathe bed assembly. 

1. In a lathe comprising a lathe bed assembly comprising a bed and associated parts including a head stock rigid with said bed, and a support assembly for supporting the lathe bed assembly the improvement that said support assembly comprises; a frame and two pedestals adjustably mounted on the frame and supporting lathe bed assembly at three spaced-apart positions, at one position the lathe bed assembly being rigidly connected to a pedestal, at a second position the lathe bed assembly being freely supported by a pedestal for sliding movement in all directions and at a third position the lathe bed assembly being supported by a pedestal for sliding movement in one direction only, parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lathe.
 2. A lathe according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises two rigid parallel members substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lathe, and two rigid cross members.
 3. A lathe according to claim 1, wherein at least three spaced-apart adjustable support means are provided which rest on a foundation and support the frame.
 4. A lathe according to claim 1, wherein a container is provided, which container contains the frame.
 5. A lathe according to claim 4, wherein the container is made from steel.
 6. A lathe according to claim 4, wherein walls divide the container into a plurality of sealed off compartments, which compartments form reservoirs for liquids.
 7. A lathe according to claim 2, wherein the pedestals are mounted on the frame at some at least of the intersections between the members of the frame.
 8. A lathe according to claim 1, wherein spherical washers are included in the support arrangement between the support assembly and the lathe bed assembly. 